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We have previously reported that CD8(+) T cells significantly influence Ab production based on the observation that posttransplant alloantibody levels in CD8-deficient murine hepatocyte transplant recipients are markedly enhanced. However, the precise mechanisms contributing to enhanced alloantibody production in the absence of CD8(+) T cells is not understood. We hypothesized that alloactivated CD8(+) T cells inhibit Ab production by skewing toward a proinflammatory cytokine profile, whereas when these cells are absent, an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile shifts the alloimmune response toward alloantibody production. To investigate this possibility, alloantibody isotype profiles were examined in CD8-deficient and wild-type hepatocyte recipients. We found that IgG1 (IL-4-dependent isotype) was the dominant alloantibody isotype in wild-type recipients as well as in CD8-deficient recipients, although the amount of alloantibody in the latter group was substantially higher. Utilizing real-time PCR we found that CD4(+) T cells from wild-type recipients significantly upregulated IFN-γ but not IL-4 mRNA. In contrast, in the absence of CD8(+) T cells, CD4(+) T cells switched to significantly upregulate IL-4 mRNA, while IFN-γ was downregulated. IL-4 knockout mice do not produce any posttransplant alloantibody. However, adoptive transfer of wild-type CD4(+) T cells into CD8-depleted IL-4 knockout mice restores high alloantibody levels observed in CD8-depleted wild-type recipients. This suggests that IL-4-producing CD4(+) T cells are critical for posttransplant alloantibody production. Additionally, this CD8-mediated regulation of posttransplant alloantibody production is IFN-γ-dependent. Further elucidation of the mechanisms by which CD8(+) T cells influence Ab production will significantly contribute to development of therapies to manipulate humoral responses to Ag.

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are highly susceptible to infection. This post-traumatic immune suppression is thought to occur via alterations in sympathetic nervous system (SNS) or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. Normally, the HPA axis and SNS help coordinate proper immune function. After SCI, the HPA axis becomes activated and descending input to sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs) is impaired. Because lymphoid organs are innervated by SPNs distributed throughout the thoracolumbar spinal cord, we predicted level-dependent immune suppression after SCI due to activation of the HPA axis and loss of descending input to SPNs. We tested this hypothesis by measuring indices of HPA (circulating corticosterone; CORT) and SNS function (norepinephrine (NE) in spleen) as well as antigen-specific antibody synthesis against an exogenous non-self protein following high- or low-level SCI. Using a mid-thoracic (T9) spinal contusion injury model, we found that CORT was elevated after SCI with aberrant patterns of diurnal CORT synthesis evident through at least the first 24 h post-injury. However, splenic NE and antibody synthesis were similar to uninjured controls. Injury severity did not change these parameters. Indeed, CORT, NE and antibody synthesis were similar after T9 contusion or transection SCI. In contrast, high-level SCI (T3) caused sustained increases in CORT and splenic NE along with impaired antibody synthesis and elevated splenocyte apoptosis. The immunosuppressive effects of T3 SCI were caused by NE acting at beta2-adrenergic receptors (beta2AR) and could be reversed using beta2AR blockers. Interestingly, impaired antibody after T3 SCI could be mimicked after T9 SCI with a beta2AR agonist. These data illustrate the immunosuppressive effects of the SNS after high-level SCI and indicate that immune deficits may be overcome using beta-blockers.

The purpose of this study was to assess the immunological effects of 1,1,2-trichloroethane (TCE) on random-bred CD-1 mice following 14 and 90 days of oral exposure. A toxicological evaluation conducted at the same time revealed the target organs to be the liver of both sexes and the erythroid elements of the females. The 14-day immunological range-finding study in males exposed to doses 1/10 and 1/100 the LD50 (38 and 3.8 mg/kg) revealed no alterations in either humoral or cell-mediated immune status. Following 90 days of exposure in the drinking water (4.4., 46, and 305 mg/kg for males and 3.9, 44, and 384 mg/kg for females), a more detailed series of immunological parameters was assessed. Cell-mediated immunity was unaltered in both sexes, while humoral immune status was depressed in both sexes, particularly when determined by hemagglutination titers. Macrophage function was depressed only in the males as indicated by the ability of thioglycolate-recruited peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) to phagocytize sheep erythrocytes (sRBC).

The regulation of the subclass of immunoglobulin secreted by B cells has been studied in vitro in polyclonal systems using mitogens, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), to bypass the requirement for cognate interaction between antigen-specific T and B cells. In these systems, interleukin-(IL)-4 induces the secretion of IgG1 (ref. 1) and IgE (ref. 2); IL-5 enhances the secretion of IgA, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) enhances the secretion of IgG2a (ref. 5). Clones of murine TH cells can be divided into two subsets, TH1 and TH2 (ref. 6). Both subsets synthesize IL-3 and granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), but only TH1 clones produce IL-2, IFN-gamma, and lymphotoxin (LT) and TH2 clones produce IL-4 and IL-5 (ref. 7). We have examined the role of clones of antigen-specific TH1 and TH2 cells in the regulation of the subclasses of IgG antibody secreted by antigen-specific B cells. Our results show that both types of TH cells induce the secretion of IgM and IgG3, whereas clones of TH1 and TH2 cells specifically induce antigen-specific B cells to secrete IgG2a and IgG1, respectively. We also demonstrate that regulation of commitment to the secretion of a particular IgG isotype occurs in two distinct stages: cognate interaction between T and B cells and interaction between T-cell-derived lymphokines and B cells.

Experiments were performed to determine the minimal drug exposure time required for norepinephrine and a relatively selective beta-2 adrenoceptor agonist to produce a maximal enhancing effect on the murine primary antibody response in vitro. The antibody response was determined by counting the number of spleen cells producing immunoglobulin M antibody directed against sheep erythrocytes 5 days after exposure of spleen cells to antigen and drugs. Norepinephrine (10(-5) M) or terbutaline (10(-5) M) were added to mouse spleen cell suspensions at the time of immunization with sheep erythrocytes on day 0. Phentolamine (10(-5) M) and/or propranolol (10(-6) M) were added to the spleen cell cultures to block adrenoceptor activation either at the time of agonist exposure (time = 0 hr) or at various times after agonist exposure (time = 15 min-96 hr). The addition of adrenoceptor antagonists at times after agonist exposure allowed for determination of the minimal time required for adrenoceptor activation to produce a maximally enhanced antibody response. Norepinephrine and terbutaline produced a maximally enhanced antibody response, as measured 5 days later, after 5 to 6 hr of agonist exposure before the addition of the antagonists. Addition of the antagonists at times later than 5 to 6 hr after agonist had no effect on the maximal antibody response. When antagonists were added before this time, the magnitude of the enhancing effect attained was time-dependent. These results indicate that early adrenoceptor activation in vitro is responsible for initiating events which culminate in an enhanced primary antibody response measured a number of days after drug exposure.

The present study shows that positive and negative modulation of the immunoglobulin M antibody response in mouse spleen cells immunized with sheep erythrocytes can be achieved by selective activation of alpha adrenoceptor subtypes. Alpha-1 adrenoceptor activation by methoxamine produced a number of spleen cells secreting immunoglobulin M antibody which was enhanced 63% above control on day 4 after immunization and which returned to control levels on days 5 (peak day of control antibody response), 6 and 7. This response mimicked the previously reported response produced by norepinephrine in the presence of propranolol, but not by norepinephrine alone. Alpha-2 adrenoceptor activation by clonidine produced no change when compared to control on days 4, 6 or 7, but produced a 50% suppression on day 5. Activation of both adrenoceptor subtypes by phenylephrine produced a control response on day 4, a depressed response on day 5 and an elevated response on days 6 and 7 by 50 and 64% above control, respectively. All drug responses were concentration-dependent and the methoxamine and clonidine responses were antagonized by phentolamine. These results suggest that antibody responses can be modulated by alpha-1 adrenoceptor activation to produce an enhanced response 1 day sooner than the peak control response and by alpha-2 adrenoceptor activation to produce a depressed response at the time of the peak control response.

This study assessed possible adverse immunological effects of trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE) on random-bred CD-1 mice following 14 and 90 days of exposure. A 14-day range-finding study was performed on male mice by gavage at doses 1/10 and 1/100 the LD50 (210 and 21 mg/kg). No alterations in either humoral or cell-mediated immunity were observed following this exposure. A 90-day study was conducted in which DCE was administered in the drinking water of male and female mice. The levels of DCE in the drinking water were calculated to deliver levels equivalent to, and higher than, those delivered for 14 days (17, 175, and 387 mg/kg for males and 23, 224, and 452 mg/kg for females). No changes were observed in the cell-mediated immune status of either sex or in the humoral immune status of females. However, a marked suppression in humoral immune status was observed in male mice exposed to all three levels of DCE, as indicated by a decreased ability of spleen cells to produce antibody against sheep erythrocytes (sRBC). Macrophage function was depressed only in females, as indicated by the decreased ability of thioglycollate-recruited peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) to phagocytize sRBC.

The beta adrenoceptor has been identified in this study to be the receptor responsible for the enhanced immunoglobulin M antibody response produced by norepinephrine in mouse spleen cells immunized with sheep erythrocytes in vitro. The magnitude and kinetics of the enhanced antibody response to norepinephrine alone, or to norepinephrine in the presence of phentolamine, were more closely mimicked with a beta-2 adrenoceptor agonist (terbutaline) than with a beta-1 adrenoceptor agonist (dobutamine). Norepinephrine alone, norepinephrine in the presence of phentolamine, or terbutaline exposure produced a number of spleen cells secreting immunoglobulin M antibody that is equal to control on day 4 after immunization and which is enhanced above control on days 5, 6 and 7. Dobutamine causes no change when compared to control on days 4 and 5, but causes a delayed decline in the response on days 6 and 7. All drug responses were concentration-dependent and propranolol antagonized the enhanced response observed in the presence of terbutaline or dobutamine alone. When norepinephrine was added to immunized spleen cell cultures in the presence of propranolol, an alpha adrenoceptor-mediated component was unmasked which produced an enhanced response on day 4 after immunization and returned to control levels on days 5, 6 and 7. These results suggest that antibody responses can be modulated positively by a sympathetic neurotransmitter. This up-modulation by norepinephrine is beta adrenoceptor-mediated at the time of, and after, peak control response and alpha adrenoceptor-mediated 1 day before peak control response.

Chloral hydrate has been found in our drinking water supplies at levels up to 5 micrograms/1. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional status of the immune system in random-bred CD-1 mice exposed to chloral hydrate for 14 and 90 days. Male mice, following 14 or 90 days of exposure to 1/10 and 1/100 the actual oral LD50, exhibited no alterations in either humoral or cell-mediated immunity. However, female mice exposed for 90 days to chloral hydrate in the drinking water demonstrated a significant depression in humoral immune function. This depression was observed when spleen cells from exposed mice were evaluated for their ability to produce antibody against sheep erythrocytes. These females did not demonstrate any changes in cell-mediated immune status.